Normal Newborn Weight Loss

It is normal for babies to lose weight during the first few days after birth.

Babies weight loss will slow down around day 3 to 4 when your milk transitions (or “comes in”).
Most health providers will weigh your baby on day 5 - depending on the time of day you gave birth. This is important in order to determine the change in weight at the first outpatient visit you have.

Ideally, an infant who is feeding effectively should lose no more than 7 to 10% of their birth weight.
A baby who is lost more than 7% of birthweight during the hospital stay should be seen by lactation specialist to assess feeding effectiveness as plan to prevent further, excessive weight loss. As colostrum is increasing each day postpartum, the rate of the weight loss should decline. Infants who are at or near 10% weight loss at hospital discharge need a feeding plan!to prevent further weight loss, sometimes these families are offered readmission into hospital to monitor weight gain more closely because babies who experience a weight loss of 10% or more have an increased the risk of infant hypernatraemia which can potentially have neurologic consequences.